33rd out of 738 books
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Grave Goods (Mistress of the Art of Death #3)
Combining the best of modern forensic thrillers with the drama of medieval fiction, New York Times' bestselling author Ariana Franklin returns with the third title in the Mistress of the Art of Death series.
England, 1176. Beautiful, tranquil Glastonbury Abbey- one of England's holiest sites, and believed by some to be King Arthur's sacred Isle of Avalon- has been burned a...more
England, 1176. Beautiful, tranquil Glastonbury Abbey- one of England's holiest sites, and believed by some to be King Arthur's sacred Isle of Avalon- has been burned a...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
March 19th 2009
by Putnam Adult
(first published January 1st 2009)
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This is the third book in the Mistress of the Art of Death Series. This historical fiction series takes place during the Middle Ages and the time of King Henry II. The main character is from Solerno and is a trained physician with a specialty in autopsies. Her skills are disguised due to the role of women in the middle ages and she travels as an "interpreter" for a Saracen, her childhood protector. King Henry II engages her skills whenever there is a death that has political implications to the...more
3rd in the Adelia Aguilar of Salerno series.[return][return]Adelia is in trouble. Even with the fiction of Mansour, her Saracen bodyguard, as a physician, the quacks of Cambridge are losing enough money to have both Mansour and Adelia hauled before a court on charges of heresy and possibly witchcraft. Prior Gregory, Adelia� s true friend, manages to convince Adelia, Mansour and the ever-loyal Gyltha along with 4 year old Allie to escape. They take refuge with Lady Emma Wolvercote, who made her f...more
The third and latest in the "Mistress of the Art of Death" series, historical mysteries by Ariana Franklin (aka Diana Norman) set in late 12th century England, is the best of the lot. Mistress of the Art of Death, the first book, was well done. The author stumbled a bit with the second, The Serpent's Tale, but she has found her stride with the current offering. Set in Glastonbury and wrapped in the mists of Avalon, the work is a must for anyone besotted with the Matter of Britain. Adelia, the mi...more
Despite Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar's more annoying traits of having a very short fuse and seldom seeing the forest for the trees, she makes for a fascinating and unique heroine. Some readers might complain about Franklin's anachronisms too, but she defends them convincingly at the end of the book, and I don't expect to read a NOVEL (a modern form) that depicts characters speaking in some combination of medieval church Latin, somewhat creolized Norman French, and various vulgar dial...more
Dec 26, 2012
Marilyn Fontane
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Mystery lovers; medieval lovers
Recommended to Marilyn by:
previous Ariana Franklin books
Grave Goods, the 3rd in the Mistress of the Art of Death Series, by Ariana Franklin continues a wonderful historical mystery series. In this novel Adelia, the female physician from Salrno, continues to work for King Henry II. The story takes place in 1154, when Henry is fighting the Welsh. There are rumors that the skeletons of King Arthur and Genevere has been discovered. Whether true or not, Henry plans to make use of the information to further his cause, not his enemy's. He sends Adelia to co...more
Forced into flight from her beloved fens, Arelia, the forensic physician, is ordered by Henry II to discover if remains recently uncovered at Glastonbury are those of Arthur and Guenevere. Searching for a missing friend who was on her way to claim a property, coming to the town and abbey which has burned to the ground, Arelia and her household are up to their necks in trouble. She and her Saracen manservant Mansur, who masquerades as the true doctor since the time and place forbid a woman to pra...more
Again, really enjoyed this book, it's one of my fave historical series! Adelia is a great character, a woman with more modern sensibilities that don't seem forced into the Henry II era. The attention to detail and historical research is, as usual, stunning. The more accurate mythology about King Arthur was interesting to see, enough so that I did EXTRA research after I finished the book. I loved the sense of unease and threat that encompassed this book, you knew bad stuff was gonna go down, but...more
Wow. I saw the Arturus bit coming a mile off (if/when you've read it you'll understand) but the rest of the conclusions were nice surprises. Or not so nice. They hit me in the gut because a lot of the things involved are heartbreaking for me.
This author has an amazing writing style and manages to keep this in line with previous novels without giving away too many spoilers. It has made me want to read the first two and the fourth to see how we got to this point and where they go from here. Brilli...more
This author has an amazing writing style and manages to keep this in line with previous novels without giving away too many spoilers. It has made me want to read the first two and the fourth to see how we got to this point and where they go from here. Brilli...more
This was a great little mystery/historical fiction. The writing was fun and the characters were all likeable. I didn't know this was part of a series (although I had to wonder as they kept referring to things that seemed way to complicated for just a "oh this happened to this character once"), but it stood on it's own quite well. Adelia is comissioned by Henry II to investigate some found skeletons that are believed to be those of Arthur and Guinevere. Throw in some murders, feudal laws, Plantag...more
I really enjoy this "Mistress of the Art of Death" series by Ariana Franklin. It's forensic anthropology a la CSI and Bones set in the time of Henry II. It's difficult to decide if I like the historical elements, the characters, or the mystery more, but it is certain that the mix, at least of the 3 books I've read, make for good reading.
To the basic cast of characters surrounding Adelia Aguilar, who had the unique opportunity to be trained in the art of medicine, science, and pathology at a tim...more
To the basic cast of characters surrounding Adelia Aguilar, who had the unique opportunity to be trained in the art of medicine, science, and pathology at a tim...more
Grave Goods by Arianna Franklin- It was EXCELLENT! I found it on sale at a bookstore for like 30% off (winning!). Anyway the story is about a forensic doctor from the time of Henry Plantagenet (Henry II) and he sends her off to Glastonbury after he hears rumor that a dying monk had a vision of King Arthur’s burial. When she gets there she finds two skeletons, the smaller one missing it’s pelvic bones. She’s supposed to verify that the skeletons are indeed Arthur and Guinevere so the Welsh will s...more
The third book in the Mistress of the Art of Death series, Grave Goods follows Adelia to Glastonbury Abbey, on behalf of King Henry. Her arrival falls on the heels of a devastating fire that has wiped out most of the great Abbey and the township, but has revealed a buried couple, rumored to be King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. Adelia's mission is to prove if these bones indeed belong to them, but on her way she stumbles into even great mystery. Will she survive this latest round of trouble?
If boo...more
If boo...more
Vesuvia Adelia Aguilar, the protagonist of Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin, is a doctor, trained in Salerno, Italy. Since women are not permitted to practice medicine in the England of 1176, she travels with Mansur, her Arab bodyguard, and allows it to seem as though he is the doctor directing her to do his work.
Glastonbury Abbey has just burned to the ground uncovering bones that may be those of King Arthur and Guinevere. Hoping to put down a rebellion in Wales where the belief in Arthur is str...more
Glastonbury Abbey has just burned to the ground uncovering bones that may be those of King Arthur and Guinevere. Hoping to put down a rebellion in Wales where the belief in Arthur is str...more
A book set in eleventh century England,Adelia Anguilar (the mistress of death) is sent to Glastonbury by King Henry the II to determine if bones found there belong to King Arthur. If she can prove they are, he feels that the Celts, minus their legendary king, will give up their rebellion for good. Using what passes for forensic medicine in the 1100's, and a saviness that I admired-she does this=while finding out many other things hidden by the monks in the Glastonbury Abby. This sounds dry-but b...more
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Feb 10, 2010
Dianne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Medieval mystery enthusiasts
Shelves:
medieval-mysteries
I nearly gave up on this one. It is difficult to bring a new reader into mid-series without irritating fans who have been reading from the start, especially when complicated relationships are involved. The unlikely protagonist is Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, graduate of the School of Medicine in Salerno. She is accompanied by her Arab eunuch, Mansur, her illigitimate daughter, Allie, and the child's nurse Gyltha. The year is 1176, the reigning monarch Henry II. Adelia discovers a weed i...more
Really like this series. This is the third book. Start with the first as the characters grow over the course of the books.
Set in the late 12th Century, during the reign of Henry II. The female protagonist is a qualified doctor from the School of Medicine in Salerno, Italy - well more of a pathologist or forensic investigator. King Henry calls Adelia his Mistress of Death and uses here to investigate particularly sticky crimes.Since women are not respected in 12th C England she originally travel...more
Set in the late 12th Century, during the reign of Henry II. The female protagonist is a qualified doctor from the School of Medicine in Salerno, Italy - well more of a pathologist or forensic investigator. King Henry calls Adelia his Mistress of Death and uses here to investigate particularly sticky crimes.Since women are not respected in 12th C England she originally travel...more
First Sentence: “And God was angry with His people of Somerset so that, in the year of Our Lord 1154. pm the day after the feast of Saint Stephen, He caused an earthquake that it might punish them for their sins…” Thus wrote Brother Caradoc in Saint Michael’s chapel in top of Glastonbury Tor, to which he’d scrambled, gasping and sobbing, so as to escape the devastation that God with his earthquake had wrought on everything below it.
King Henry II is fighting to suppress the rebellious Welsh, who...more
King Henry II is fighting to suppress the rebellious Welsh, who...more
Another great medieval forensic mystery from Arianna Franklin. I think I liked this best of the three books she has so far written about Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, Mistress of the Art of Death to Henry II.
The mystery that Adelia is sent to investigate this time is in Glastonbury where the bones of King Arthur and Guinevere are reported to have been found. Henry II faces continual rebellions by the Welsh who are inspired by their belief that Arthur will one day rise from his resting pl...more
The mystery that Adelia is sent to investigate this time is in Glastonbury where the bones of King Arthur and Guinevere are reported to have been found. Henry II faces continual rebellions by the Welsh who are inspired by their belief that Arthur will one day rise from his resting pl...more
This is book 3 in "Mistress of the Art of Death" series, in which a 13th century female doctor from Sicily is hijacked by Henry II of England to solve murders. I enjoyed the series, but by this third book I have pretty much figured out how the author thinks, and was able to solve the mystery about a third of the way through.
The main romantic relationship has also gotten frustrating to the point where I don't much care about the characters and their issues any more.
I will probably read the 4th bo...more
The main romantic relationship has also gotten frustrating to the point where I don't much care about the characters and their issues any more.
I will probably read the 4th bo...more
Simply the best series... read the previous two first.
Extract:
Extract:
As Adelia opened her mouth, the king's forefinger wagged it shut. “Yes, I know,” he said. “Nobody's going to accept the findings of a woman, but I've seen to it. Glastonbury's been told that I'm sending them an expert in skeletons, my own Lord Mansur” — Henry bowed to the tall Arab, who salaamed back — “to authenticate the bones of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, if indeed those are what they are. The monks won't like having a Sarace...more
Aug 04, 2012
Stephanie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction-for-adults,
mysteries
I'm not a frequent mystery-reader anymore, so I started this book without much enthusiasm (I needed an ebook to read ASAP, and this was what I could find in my library's ebook catalogue)...but by the time I was thirty pages into the ebook, I had to take a break just to hurry up and reserve every other book in the series at my local library, immediately, in paper!
I LOVE the energy of the writing, the fantastic characters, the dry sense of humor that runs all through it. I love the medieval settin...more
I LOVE the energy of the writing, the fantastic characters, the dry sense of humor that runs all through it. I love the medieval settin...more
Ariana Franklin doesn't disappoint in book three of her Mistress of the Art of Death series.
I'm a huge fan of both historical fiction and CSI inspired forensic science themes - this series has both. :-) Franklin creates characters that are flawed yet endearing. And her attention to historical detail really draws me in.
In this installment of the series the MC, Adelia Aguilar, must go to the recently burned Glastonbury Abbey on the orders of King Henry II to prove the identities of two skeletons f...more
I'm a huge fan of both historical fiction and CSI inspired forensic science themes - this series has both. :-) Franklin creates characters that are flawed yet endearing. And her attention to historical detail really draws me in.
In this installment of the series the MC, Adelia Aguilar, must go to the recently burned Glastonbury Abbey on the orders of King Henry II to prove the identities of two skeletons f...more
This book didn't hold my attention the way the previous books in the series did. I enjoyed the references to King Arthur and his importance in building an English ethos and to King Henry's contributions to the English justice system and the discovery of the identity of the two bodies buried together, but not so much that I felt any real compulsion to finish the book - that from one who frequently stays up to read an entire book in one night. The ending felt hurried and unsatisfying as if the aut...more
This book, third in the series of historical mysteries about a woman physician/forensic pathologist in Henry II's England (yes! really!), was a perfectly fine entry in the series but just didn't blow me away. Of course, the book of Franklin's that *did* blow me away was a stand-alone, City of Shadows, which was also historical but set in 1920s and 30s Berlin. I wish she'd write, or the publishers would publish, more like that.
Brief synopsis: Henry II is having trouble with the Welsh and other C...more
Brief synopsis: Henry II is having trouble with the Welsh and other C...more
Loved it - I think the best of the series so far. I'm not a CSI-crime fan, but this is a fascinating historical series (I think of it as mystery, but my library puts her under fiction). Either way, I love the character of Dr. Adelia Aguilar and her two mainstays and dear friends, Gyltha and Mansur, and her lover, Rowley (bishop of St. Albans). I also love her interactions with Henry II, who brought her to England from Salerno to serve as his "mistress of the dead" (like a modern forensic patholo...more
I am bound to give this novel at least three stars since I couldn't stop reading it and finished it in a couple days BUT that being said, I think I am just not cut out for series. I loved the first novel in this series so much, I was so sad when I finished it and so excited to read the second. I read the second novel and was slightly disappointed and I think I'm even more disappointed by this one. I can't even really recall any particular parts of it now that I'm done and it didn't hold my inter...more
I really like this series. I love the characters, and particularly Adelia. I love the pacing, the mysteries, the historical setting. I love Henry II, even though he drives me batty sometimes.
What I really don't love is Rowley. In previous books, I sort of managed to put up with him - he manages to be less annoying as the plot thickens, and he generally isn't around much before then.
The reason I dislike Rowley is this: he doesn't love Adelia. Not really. He hates all the parts of her that she che...more
What I really don't love is Rowley. In previous books, I sort of managed to put up with him - he manages to be less annoying as the plot thickens, and he generally isn't around much before then.
The reason I dislike Rowley is this: he doesn't love Adelia. Not really. He hates all the parts of her that she che...more
This is actually the third book in a series, but I could not tell. While there are references to the main character’s past, this is no more than any stand-alone novel would elude to, which to my mind this book truly could be. The main protagonist, Adelia, is a type of medieval forensic pathologist trained at a school in Salerno (which was actually the world’s first medical school). Her character is strong but vulnerable and even throws up a heartfelt prayer here and there. She does not discount...more
Having read the first in the series (which set the scene nicely) I unintentionally missed the second but picked up the third...
Adelia, a 12th century female anatomist (shock horror!) who has found favour with Henry II is brought in to identify some human remains found at Glastonbury. Rumour has it that they are the bones of King Arthur and his lady Guinevere and Henry wants Adela to conduct an investigation.
Adelia was medically trained in Naples but, because of her sex, has to pretend to be the...more
Adelia, a 12th century female anatomist (shock horror!) who has found favour with Henry II is brought in to identify some human remains found at Glastonbury. Rumour has it that they are the bones of King Arthur and his lady Guinevere and Henry wants Adela to conduct an investigation.
Adelia was medically trained in Naples but, because of her sex, has to pretend to be the...more
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Ariana Franklin was the pen name of British writer Diana Norman. A former journalist, Norman had written several critically acclaimed biographies and historical novels. She lived in Hertfordshire, England, with her husband, the film critic Barry Norman.
Note:
The Death Maze (UK) is published as The Serpent's Tale in the US.
Relics of the Dead (UK) is published as Grave Goods in the US.
The Assassin'...more
More about Ariana Franklin...
Note:
The Death Maze (UK) is published as The Serpent's Tale in the US.
Relics of the Dead (UK) is published as Grave Goods in the US.
The Assassin'...more
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